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National Bowl Game

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Stadium
  
FIU Stadium

Previous stadiums
  
J. Birney Crum Stadium

Location
  
Miami, Florida

Operated
  
2010–present

National Bowl Game

Previous locations
  
Allentown, Pennsylvania

The National Bowl Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each December or January in Miami, Florida at Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium on the college campus of Florida International University. The game showcases the best NFL draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility in NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III & NAIA. The National Bowl presents and is played as a doubleheader with the FCS BOWL at FIU Stadium National Bowl weekend. The National Bowl was first played in 2010 at the J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania and featured players from around the nation from all divisions but focuses on players below FBS/D1A. Players travel to the game from as far as Texas, Arkansas, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, and more. With the Cactus Bowl and similar games being postponed indefinitely, the National Bowl has been touted by NFL Draft Experts as a premier post season all-star game for players from NCAA's FCS, Division 2 and 3 to get exposure in front of NFL scouts. In 2013, the first year the game was played at FIU, the National Bowl attracted 10 NFL teams, 4 CFL teams and over 20 total pro scouts. The National Bowl is presented by East Preps LLC which is the founder of the D2-D3 Pro Day renamed “National Pro Day” which has combined with the National Bowl and has seen 80+ players go pro (as of 2013). The National Bowl Game is organized by its founder and owner Michael Quartey, Esq. a former USA Football News All-American Defensive End at Franklin and Marshall College and the game is administered by Jacole Fletcher former Head Cheerleading Coach of Muhlenberg College. Staff include trainer Arlan Johnson, coaches Jim Collins, Scotty Walden, and football manager Katie Parry.

The rosters typically consist of 100 All-American and All-Conference college football players. The rosters give NFL scouts a chance to view and get to know some of the best players from smaller schools that are traditionally not scouted and many of those players' schools do not have a pro day. The game is followed by the National Pro Day scouting combine to give these same players a chance to be scouted by the NFL and other leagues such as the CFL, AFL, and other arena/indoor teams. The game is coached by pro coaches and has featured NFL Coach Mike Stock formerly of the Green Bay Packers as a Head Special Teams coordinator with 18 years of experience in the NFL and Pro indoor Head Coach of the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Chris Thompson. The National Bowl has featured over 10 NFL teams including scouts from the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes, AFL’s Tampa Bay Storm, and Philadelphia Soul and many more teams. The game works directly with most NFL team’s such as the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and Green Bay Packers college scouting departments to compile player measurements, bio info, and game film. NFL Films started distributing the National Bowl Game Film and practice film exclusively to all 32 NFL teams for scouting purposes in 2013. All 32 NFL teams receive and review the National Bowl game film and the game has been touted by the Sports Agents Blog as a secret weapon for smaller school prospects. The game also runs with the Athletes and Agents Conference which is the first conference to feature NFL agents that educate parents and players directly on the process of selecting and agent and going pro. Panel members have included agents Jonathan Tilly, Chris Cabott, Scott Rochelle, Richard Larde II, and Timothy Brennan.

National Bowl Weekend Players in the NFL

Following is a list of players who played with the NFL after appearing in the National Bowl & FCS National Bowl.

  • Many other players go on to the CFL, AFL, Indoor leagues and Europe.
  • References

    National Bowl Game Wikipedia